Xbox One will come bundled with Microsoft’s new Kinect sensor bar, and a new patent filed by the company suggests the device will impose certain DRM restrictions based on who it sees in the room, and more.

UPDATE:

Microsoft has contacted MCV with comment, which reads, “Microsoft regularly applies for and receives patents as part of its business practice; not all patents applied for or received will be incorporated into a Microsoft product”.

Which is not a denial, so do keep an open mind on everything in this post for now.

ORIGINAL STORY:

ExtremeTech, as we told you yesterday, reports that the patent is for tech that sees Kinect monitoring how many people are in a room at once. If the number exceeds the amount allowed on a game or film’s license, then you the owner of the content, must pay for an extended license.

Below you’ll find an image from the patent, and while it’s an old one, MCV reports that sources have confirmed to the site that this will be implemented in Xbox One.

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The bottom line is that the filing reads, “The users consuming the content on a display device are monitored so that if the number of user-views licensed is exceeded, remedial action may be taken.”

‘Remedial action’ could mean the purchase of a new, extended license, or worse. The problem is that we’re not yet sure.

If true, is this wrong? Should Microsoft be answering these questions now? Let us know below.

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